US Senators call for an investigative committee

“We are just beginning to recover from an epidemic that has already claimed the lives of more than 600,000 mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, husbands, friends and associates in the United States alone. … But it is not too early to determine that an independent commission should be formed in the United States alone … 9/11 style Menendez and Collins wrote in a joint text.

A committee like this after the September 11 attacks

As they explain, the commission appointed by Congress after the September 11, 2001 attacks conducted an investigation, in isolation from current policy, with the participation of experts, highlighting mistakes made and drawing conclusions. The same is the goal of the proposed coronavirus committee.

“Because the question is not whether, but when the next pandemic or public health crisis will happen” – argued the politicians. According to their vision, the agency will investigate the state’s response to the pandemic at every level, from federal to state, as well as international actions. It will also find an answer to the question of why ethnic minorities are particularly affected by the epidemic.

“This is the minimum we can do”

Bills establishing the commission were submitted to the House and Senate in May. And last week, a group of 58 bipartisan congressmen from the Parliamentary Problem Solving Group gained support. However, this does not guarantee that the board will be built. According to Politico, the desire to create a new investigative body, especially among Republicans, is low — it was their bases that made the biggest mistakes — so Menendez and Collins’ plan to create an independent commission may wind up along the lines of the Initiation Plan. An independent investigation into the Capitol riots. This plan was also supported by some Republican parties, but eventually ran out of 3 votes from Republican senators.

Nonetheless, Menendez and Collins say the commission is necessary given the scale of the tragedy that has claimed far more lives than the 9/11 attacks.

Politicians conclude, “We have to face the gravity of this moment, study the response to COVID-19 and learn from our mistakes. After burying 600,000 of our loved ones, that’s the bare minimum we can do.”